Events and Outreach


There were numerous special School events and gatherings over the fall and winter of 2008/2009. Here are some of the highlights:  

 

 

NEW YORK


 

 At the Union League Club: L to R: Sarnia Hoyt, John Harbison, Carol and Ronald Kurtz '54


Sarnia and Ed Hoyt Host Dinner and Talk by John Harbison
On November 5, 2008, Ed Hoyt ’57 and his wife Sarnia hosted a dinner for the School at the Union League Club in New York City. Dean Deborah Fitzgerald and Associate Provost Philip Khoury joined guest speaker Professor John Harbison and 46 guests for a wonderful talk on the history and vitality of music at MIT. Photos L to R: Sarnia Hoyt; John Harbison: Carol and Ronald Kurtz ’54. ∎  For a portrait of Ed Hoyt and his strategic support for the School, visit the Hoyt Profile.  

 

LONDON


At the Wilton Theater, London:  L to R: Shankar Raman (Literature), Dean Deborah Fitzgerald, Diana Henderson (Literature), and Janet Sonenberg (Music and Theater Arts)

Premiere
On November 21, 2008, the Dean and faculty attended the premiere of “The Tragedy of Thomas Hobbes”—a play commissioned by MIT and the Royal Shakespeare Company—at the Wilton Music Hall in London. Photo L to R: Shankar Raman (Literature), Deborah Fitzgerald, Diana Henderson (Literature), Janet Sonenberg (Music & Theater Arts), and playwright Adriano Shaplin. 

 

 

BOSTON


 

Backstage at Symphony Hall:  Moira Yip '80, sponsor of the outing, with Yo-Yo Ma and Deborah Fitzgerald, surrounded by Burchard Scholars

Burchard Scholars Backstage with Yo-Yo Ma
On March 8, 2009, the 2009 Burchard Scholars, along with the Dean and faculty members, attended a concert by the Silk Road Ensemble at Symphony Hall. After the performance, Professor Lowell Lindgren organized a backstage visit with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Photo: Moira Yip ’80 who sponsored this special outing, Yo-Yo Ma and Deborah Fitzgerald, surrounded by Burchard Scholars.

 

 

CHINA


Dinner with Beijing Club members. Standing: Edward Shi ’06; Assistant Dean for Development, Anne Marie Michel; Hong Wang’s wife, Yin Chen. Seated: Linda Lin ’00; Hong Wang ’93; Dean Deborah Fitzgerald; and Zhuzhen Li, retired senior scientist with China aeronautics and astronautics industries

Dean Fitzgerald Addresses the MIT Club of Hong Kong
Over January the Dean traveled to Asia, where she addressed the MIT Club of Hong Kong (together with School of Science Dean Marc Kastner) and the MIT Club of Beijing. During the trip the Dean also had the opportunity to update alumni on the School during individual meetings and to visit Tsinghua University.

     

L: Kenneth-Hung Fang ’61 with Dean Fitzgerald
R: Economics alumni Amy Yen ’96 and William Shen ’98

 
 

CAMBRIDGE 


 

 

L to R: Merton’s talk filled Wong Auditorium to capacity, with an overflow crowd watching on a screen in the adjacent lobby; Robert Muh ’59 and Robert Merton.

Muh Alumni Award to Nobel laureate Robert Merton '70
Economist and Nobel laureate Robert C. Merton ’70 received the 2009 Robert A. Muh Alumni Award, presented by the School on March 5th. Given every two years, the award honors an MIT graduate for noteworthy achievements in the humanities, arts or social sciences. The ceremonies include a public lecture.

 

Soundings, Spring 2009